McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes Ferrari’s latest upgrades will bring lasting intrigue to the Formula 1 championship battle, despite missing out on pole position at the British Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc showed strong performance, leading practice sessions, but ended up fifth and sixth in qualifying, with Max Verstappen claiming pole for Red Bull. Stella acknowledges Ferrari’s improvements and sees potential for them to challenge at the front for the remainder of the 2025 season. He considers Ferrari the strongest team based on their pace in all sessions and believes the close competition makes not only Silverstone, but the whole championship, interesting. Stella anticipates Ferrari being McLaren’s main rival for the constructors’ title, following their second-place finish last season.
He expresses no surprise at Verstappen’s stunning pole lap, crediting Red Bull’s strength on high-speed tracks and calling Verstappen a serious contender for the win at the British Grand Prix. Stella praises Verstappen’s skill in maximizing his potential and acknowledges Red Bull’s competitiveness. Despite Verstappen’s pole, Stella remains cautious of his threat and respects Red Bull’s capabilities on smoother circuits. The British Grand Prix promises exciting racing with Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren all in contention for victory.
